All California notary applicants — new and renewing — must submit fingerprints electronically through the Live Scan system before a commission is granted (Government Code §8201.1). This requirement applies even to notaries seeking their fourth or fifth consecutive commission.
Live Scan transmits fingerprint images directly to the California Department of Justice, which forwards them to the FBI for a federal criminal history check. The Secretary of State also requests ongoing arrest notification, so any subsequent arrest after commissioning may be reported.
Fingerprints from a prior commission cannot be reused — each commission period requires a new submission. The Live Scan Request form is available on the Secretary of State's website.
Exam Tip: "I already submitted Live Scan for my last commission" is not a valid reason to skip the step. It is required every single time. Exam questions sometimes frame this as a returning notary who believes their prior fingerprints are on file — they are not sufficient for a new application.
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